Rocking grate.



No. 638,355. Patented Dec. 5, |899. W. R. PARK.

ROCKING GRATE.

(Application lked Mar. 16, 1399.)

2 Sheets-Sheei I.

(No Modei.)

Ink/ENTER WITNEEEIEE.

J5/M4K Swmw.

Patented nee. 5, |859.

w. n. PARK.

ROCKING GRATE.

(App1iation Bled Max'. 16, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

WITNESSEE 4immovable bars or with water-bars.

niirnn rains trice.

WILLIAM R. PARK, OF TAUN TON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HANCOCK INSPIRATOR COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,355, dated December 5, 1899.

Application filed Marcil 16, 1899.

To LZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. PARK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Taunton, county of Bristol, and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rocking Grates, of which the following is a specification. A

This invention relates to that class of boilergrates wherein the re-supporting surface consists in whole or in part of an assemblage of movable fire-bars supported and actuated in such manner that the grate-surface may be agitated so as to shake the fire without the employment of the ordinary tools in the hands ofthe fireman.

This improvement may be employed in grates where all of the nre-bars are composed of agitating members or may be employed where the agitating portion is alternated with I believe it to be especially adapted to the lastnamed association of parts.

In the drawings hereto annexed, Figure l is a representation, on a small scale, of a series of rocking fire-bars or choppers supported by rocker-bars, which are in turn agitated by an actuating mechanism under the control of the fireman. Fig. 2 shows in elevation and part section a portion of one of the rockerbars with choppers mounted thereon, the alternating water-bars in section and the end supporting devices for the rocker-bars in part section. Fig. 3 shows a portion of one of the rocker bars with a chopper in plan view. Fig. 4 shows the cross-section of a rocker-bar with one of the choppers supported thereby. Fig. 5 shows in detail the supporting device for the rocking bar as viewed from the left of Fig. 2 at the section marked The drawings and the following description relate to the arrangement wherein the agitating choppers are disposed in rows alternating with water-bars; but the arrangement of the choppers and their oscillating supports may be employed with solid alternating firebars or without any dre-support excepting the choppers, which in that case should be reproportioned in an obvious manner, so as to cover the entire grate-surface. The choppers C consist of an upper portion, which is com- Serial No. 709,246. (No model.)

means of a key c5, which passes through the slot c4, binding the chopper firmlyin its place. The rocker-bar B is contrived so as to meet the requisitions of conflicting conditions. A considerable weight rests on the choppers C .when the grate is in use, so that all supportin g-bars must of necessity possess a great degree of strength and rigidity in order to stand up under the load without bending or breaking. Wrought-iron or steel bars of the ordinary shape, either square or rounded in crosssection, are very liable to bend, especially when they become heated, and the cast-iron bar, unless special provision is made for giving it unusual qualities of rigidity and resistance, is liable to breakage. Any bending also of the rocker-bar tends to throw its pivotal bearing out 0f proper operative adjustment, so that its binding offers an obstacle to the free agitation of the choppers. Moreover, where water-bars are used alternately between the rows of choppers a definite relationship in position between thewater-bars and choppers must be preserved, and if a portion of the grate were permitted to sag below its appointed level the tire cannot be kept in proper condition over the spot where the disarrangement has occurred. On the other hand, it is desirable to reduce the sizeof all parts of the grate mechanism below the fire-supporting surface to a minimum, so as to interfere as little as possible with the current of air, which must have access to the re. On the one hand, therefore, the conditions require parts of great size and strength and, on the other hand, demand that these parts shall be reduced to a minimum bulk. The rockerbar here described is designed to overcome IOO this difficulty and to meet, as far as possible,

uwthe conflicting conditions without sacrificing the desirable results on either branch of the alternative.

Referring now to the drawings, the rockerbar B is cellularin construction and composed of longitudinal webs b', with transverse webs b2, which connect together the longitudinal webs Zi. Both the webs h' and b2 are made to taper from the top down, so that a clearance is afforded for the passage of waste and ashes. The depth of the webs b insures great stiffness and strength to resist the weight resting upon the choppers, and this strength of webs b2 is contributed without materially affecting the lfree passage of air to the nre. Where water-bars are used, it is desirable to place the transverse webs b2 so that they shall stand beneath the water-bars A, and thus stand out of the Way of descending ashes.

In the space between the transverse webs b2 hangers c3 of the choppers C are inserted and the choppers secured in position by the key c5, as above described.

The cells or spaces which intervene between the transverse webs b2 are considerably in eX- cess of the space required to admit the hanger c3 of the chopper. There is therefore an ample air-duct on either side of each chopper, which insures free access of air to the parts of the choppers which would be liable to overheating if the rocker-bar were not provided with such air-passages.

In Fig. 1 the arrangement by which a series of rocker-bars and choppers supported thereby are agitated is shown. Depending from the end of each rocker-bar there is an arm b4, perforated with a hole b5 at its lower end. Outside the fire-box a lever Z is suitably fixed, and from this lever extends a connecting-rod l', which is joined to each of the depending arms h4 by a pin Z2. By operating the lever l the entire series of rocker-bars and supporting-choppers may be agitated.

In devices of the kind herein described itv is almost indispensable that the several members of which the mechanism is composed shall be readily removed and interchanged Withduplicate parts and at the same time that the entire structure should when in position for operation be securely seated in place. The interchangeability of the choppers O is clearly indicated by the drawings without further description. The rocker-bars B are pivoted in such a manner that they may readily be removed and at the same time properly secured, so that under no possible condition can an accidental shake or jolt, such as occurs especially with locomotive grates, dislodge the rocker-bar from its socket. rlhe arrangement by which this is secured consists in the manner by which the rocker-bar is pivoted to the side bars or dead-plate, which is shown in Fig. 2 as secured to the sheet of the waterleg of the boiler, which surrounds the nre-box, as in the case of a locomotive. This deadplate Pis of cast-iron, with pivot-studsp projecting therefrom. These pivot-studs are axially alined with each other on opposite sides of the grate and stand in proper position for the suspension of the rocker-bar B. Projectin g from the dead-plate I? there is a segmental guard p2, which is shown as disposed concentrically above the pivot p and removed therefrom by a suitable space. Upon the end of the rocker-bar B there is cast a segmental collar b3, of which the radial proportions correspond to the space between the pivot p' and the guard p2. In order to insert a rocker-bar into the grate mechanism, the bar is first placed-in an inverted position and brought up under the pivot-stud p. The segmental collar b3 then embraces the stud p' on its lower side, and a one-half turn of the bar B then slips the segmental collar bglaterally into the space p' and guard p2. lVhen the bar is thus in place, it is perfectly free to rock uponthe pivot p, while the guard p2 above the segmental collar b3 effectually prevents any displacement of the bar B in that direction. The removal of the bar is easily accomplished by reversing the above operation.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A rocker mechanism for grates consisting of a rocker-bar, and end supports therefor, the said supports consisting of an axial pivot-stud, and a segmental guard disposed concentrically about said pivot stud and above the same, a segmental collar on the end of the rocker-bar proportioned so as to enter the annular space between the pivot-stud and the segmental guard from below the pivotstud, and turn into secure engagement with the stud and guard, the said guard adapted to'prevent bodily upward movement of the rocker-bar, and the said stud and annular space adapted to form a pivotal bearing for the segmental collar7 substantially as described.

2. In a grate,the combination of water-bars, cellular pivoted rocker-bars below the waterbars and transverse thereto, the rocker-bars formed of longitudinal webs with transverse webs joining them at intervals leaving airspaces from top to bottom, the transverse webs located directly beneath the water-bars, an assemblage of choppers supported by the rocker-bars between the water-bars, each chopper provided with a hanger which enters a cellular opening in a rocker-bar without filling the same, so that free air-space is afforded between the chopper hangers and transverse webs of the rocker-bars, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 14th day of March, A. D. 1899.

W. R. PARK. Witnesses:

E. F. GRoLL, S. G. O. SWANsoN.

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